Fujifilm’s solutions for labels and packaging

Flenex FW is a high quality, water-washable flexo plate allowing label converters to improve the simplicity and efficiency of flexo plate production. With this, Fujifilm is in an excellent position to offer high quality solutions for sample and prototype making, along with shorter run label and packaging production applications. The Indian print market has evolved significantly over the last 10 years, both in terms of customer demand and available print technologies. While downward trends have been common for many commercial print applications, printed labels and packaging continue to see growth. From a brand owner perspective, the drive is to improve product visibility and shelf appeal in stores, while minimising operational costs and maximising production efficiencies. For label converters, this demand is driving the adoption of new technologies, particularly in the flexo process, the predominant technology in Europe for label conversion.

Fujifilm’s expertise in the label and packaging market is diverse, with the company already a major supplier of aluminium plates to offset packaging printers and UV ink to narrow web label converters. The company’s infrastructure is therefore built around offering exceptional service for critical consumables purchases. For label converters in particular, Fujifilm offers a comprehensive range of inks and associated products under the brand name ‘Sericol UVivid’ that is designed to maximise throughput and simplify label production. Whether it is simplifying the process of colour matching or reducing the cost of a more expensive production method, the right ink can have a major impact on the printing of a high quality label. And with a high density white ink within the Sericol UVivid range, Fujifilm is well placed to add value to any label production process.

Fujifilm’s high quality, water-washable flexo plate allows label converters to improve the simplicity and efficiency of flexo plate production. In addition, Fujifilm’s emerging inkjet portfolio means the company is also in an excellent position to offer high quality solutions for sample and prototype making, along with shorter run label and packaging production applications.

Flenex FW water-washable plates

Flenex FW is a water-washable flexo plate that provides the highest print quality and productivity, while significantly lowering the cost-in-use compared to thermal, solvent or other water-wash plate technologies. The key benefits of Flenex FW water-washable plates are:

SM Ramprasad, AVP – Graphics Arts Division, Fujifilm India, says, “We strive to understand our customer’s business goals, both short and long term, focus on their needs, and then provide the most Fujifilm solutions that will add value to their business. Flenex FW are water-washable plates that answer the call of efficiency. This product not only addresses quality needs of the customer but also facilitates immense resource saving for a converter compared to thermal, solvent, or other water-wash technology.”

Technology overview: Flenex FW photopolymer plates contain a special rubber-based compound that offers a number of inherent advantages over other elastomeric materials from which most other flexo plates are made. In particular, rubber is not oxygen sensitive, which minimises the effect oxygen in the air, has on the dot shape and the complexity of the system to eliminate oxygen from the plate production process. The other advantages of a rubber-based plate material include reduced dot gain, better ink transfer for cleaner and brighter print results, faster exposure and washout times, much more durable, mild washout with water and dishwasher soap and reduced plate swell.

Compatibility: Flenex FW plates are compatible with leading Flexo LAM CtP devices such as Screen PlateRite FX, Esko CDI and Xeikon ThermoflexX Series as well as with the main water wash processors in the industry. Both the analogue and digital versions of Flenex FW can be used with any UV, water-based or solvent-based inks.

High quality print: The Flenex FW water-washable plate system does far more than simply eliminate the need for solvents and wicking cloths. It delivers longer runs while producing a consistent 200lpi at 4,400dpi, 1% process dot structure for superb high quality print, depending on the conditions.

Flat top dot structure: The rubber-based compound means a 1% flat top dot can be achieved without complex systems to eliminate oxygen, and results in lower dot gain. In addition, better ink transfer produces noticeably cleaner and brighter print results.

Higher productivity: Flenex FW water-washable plates reduce platemaking processing times to less than 40 minutes, 300% faster than leading solvent systems and 1.5 times faster than current thermal and water-wash technologies. Faster platemaking means more time on press and a dramatic increase in output per shift, freeing you to redeploy labour to more value-added activities. Typical benefits include increase in number of plates produced, faster job turnaround, maximise press time and lower labour costs or opportunity to redeploy.

Lower cost-in-use: Because of the simplicity of Flenex FW plate processing, the expense of higher-cost solvent and thermal processors as well as upcharges on associated consumables is avoided. The Flenex FW system therefore represents the lowest cost in use for the production of flexo plates.

More durable: Flenex FW is proven to deliver significant improvements in plate durability and reductions in plate swell, thanks to its unique technology. This means each plate is able to perform longer on press than competitive plates. This increases overall press uptime and results in longer print runs and greater overall profitability.

Less impact on the environment: The processing of Flenex FW plates is accomplished with only a mild detergent. Not working with solvents is a huge benefit from a health and safety perspective.